Chapter Text
It wasn’t often that Sophie Carsen got to be a “regular” kid.
Mostly because she wasn’t.
And also because the Library didn’t do really “days off.”
But every once in a while—when there weren’t artifacts that urgently needed to be collected, and no one was actively being turned into a pigeon—her mother declared a pause. A breath. A human moment.
And so Sophie found herself walking through the streets of a small Oregon town with her mom on one side and Cassandra Cillian on the other, clutching a chocolate croissant and pretending they were a normal trio of women out for a normal afternoon.
Eve wore sunglasses and a deceptively casual jacket. Cassandra had already picked up a locally handmade scarf and was explaining the origin of the dye like it was the most exciting thing in the world.
Sophie just enjoyed the sun on her face and the rare, sparkling joy of being the kid instead of the Speaker.
They stopped at a bookstore. A second hand shop. A café with three tables and too many scones. Eve paid for lunch. Cassandra tried the lemon lavender tea “purely for scientific curiosity.” Sophie took three sugar packets and slipped them into her bag with absolutely no reason.
They laughed. A lot.
And for a while, Sophie forgot she had a title.
****
Later, back at the Library
Cassandra was organizing notes near the main table when Sophie wandered by, hands in her pockets, voice casual.
“Cassie, isn’t it funny you didn’t like kids?”
Cassandra froze for a second, blinked. “What?”
“You didn’t like kids,” Sophie repeated, floating a book in mid-air (she asked nicely). “Once upon a time.”
Cassandra blinked again, then slowly smiled. “You know that?”
Sophie shrugged. “I know most things people hope I don’t.”
Cassandra tilted her head, considered her for a long moment, then said, “Well, you’re cooler than any other kid I’ve met.”
Sophie grinned, telekinetically putting the book down. “That’s because I’m not really a kid.”
Cassandra crossed her arms. “Yes, you are.”
“I’m just better at pretending now.”